Building-siding hanger and support device

ABSTRACT

The device comprises a vertical structural channel from which and through which supporting elements can be positioned such that a single installer can position and fix multiples of building siding without the aide of a second installer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.

This application claims the benefit of PPA ser. Nr. U.S. 60/600,361 filed or 371 date Aug. 11, 2004—Building-siding support column and collar device file by the present inventor. 6,848,192 - 2/2005 Partin; 6,705,021 - 3/2004 Nadal et al.; 6,434,853 - 8/2002 Pyburn; 5,692,311 - 12/1997  Paquin; 5623767 - 4/1997 Colavito; 5,522,149 - 6/1996 Meyer; 5,370,377 - 12/1994  Van Der Meer: 5,319,909 - 6/1994 Singleterry; 4,899,459 - 2/1990 Taggart; 4,862,669 - 9/1989 Jacobsen; 4,484,392 - 11/1984  Defino et al.; 4,473,100 - 9/1984 Wheeler, 4,425,714 - 1/1984 Kelly, Jr.; 4,159,029 - 6/1979 Matthews, 4,155,175 - 5/1979 Stiles,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the hanging of siding and support devices for use in building construction.

2. Prior Art

Traditionally two installation workers have been required to position siding, boards, panels, or the like, on a building. One installer would secure one end while the other would level to the first secure fixing. This process would repeat for each successive level or layer. Subsequent differential spacings of siding would be determined and achieved through use of a level and rule. In order to reduce inefficient use of manpower, various tools were introduced which allowed a single installer to fully undertake the entire application.

Most devices are limited by their fundamental requirement for a previously established and fixed member onto which they hook or are supported. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,149 Meyer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,392 Defino et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,192 Partin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,029 Matthews; U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,714 Kelly,Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,853 Pyburn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,767 Colavito; U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,377 Van Der Meer). After application of the device, the board being applied would be positioned and supported on the device at one end, while the other end of the board was then secured by the installer. This process removes the need for a second installer but still requires the individual installer to return to the device in order to remove and reposition the device for each subsequent board.

Other derivations of these devices are limited by their requirement to either clamp to, abut to, or affix to existent boards, studs or panels that have already been fixed in position (U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,021 Nadal et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,311 Paquin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,100 Wheeler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,175 Stiles).

Several devices recognize the need for multiple siding panels to be positioned with a single application of the device. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,909 Singleterry; U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,669 Jacobsen;) This lead to columnar support devices, from which several boards could be supported prior to fixing. One such device affixes the supporting column to the building where the device remains, even after construction (U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,459 Taggart). This engenders wastage that only serves its purpose one time. The L-shaped clips disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,459 required to support siding are unlikely to support the heavier weights of current cement fiber boards.

This siding application process naturally evolved to a method by which the supporting column could be hung away from the building, enabling the siding to be supported between the supporting column and the building to which it was being affixed. One such device as this is U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,669, Jacobsen. This device still has the limitation of requiring an established board in order to be utilized. This device also requires being positioned under an already fixed panel where it is pinched under compression between the established board and the building structure from where it is intended to support the entire applied superstructure. This device does not support the weight of cement fiber boards.

None of the above devices or inventions embody the simplicity and means for hanging multiple siding units that can be positioned in a single application and are able to support the weight of concrete fiber panels.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

This device is characterized by two embodiments. The primary device (FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) is characterized by slots, cutouts, stamped openings in a supporting vertical channel (100 and 300). The secondary embodiment of the device (FIG. 8 and FIG. 9) being a simpler variation of the primary embodiment This said supporting vertical channel is suspended from the building via a spike through openings 100A and 300A. This said channel has regular slotted apertures (100B and 300B) into, and through, which horizontal members (200A and 210A) are positioned in order to receive and support building siding and the like. The device facilitates the professional hanging of building siding, even by a first-time installer. The primary embodiment is multi-purpose allowing the device to be used as a regular shelving unit after its primary function of hanging siding has been fulfilled. The device allows for the hanging of sidings, ranging from the lightest of vinyls to the more technically difficult and heavier cement fiber boards. The secondary embodiment is simpler in manufacture and usage (FIG. 8 and FIG. 9) and employs a slotted vertical channel (300) through which a supporting tab (310) is positioned. A professional installer will immediately recognize the efficacy of both embodiments of this device to save both time and materials.

Using either embodiment of the device, one installer can support, level and fix multiple siding units in a simple application that reduces time, manpower and the technical knowledge that fixing of building siding traditionally requires.

The device does not require the prior existence of any reference board or panel from which to take its fundamental support. It can be positioned out from the building face to allow for any irregularities or protuberances from the building face such as window frames, ornamental effects and designs.

The horizontal support element (200A or 210A) can be positioned as close to the existing building surface as required or as far out as installing technique chooses. It does not have the restrictive limitation of a requisite support footing that most devices in this field normally impose. Using steel, the design and intrinsic strength of the device will even allow for heavy four foot by eight foot plywood panels to be hung. It allows for the insertion of standard, off the shelf, weld steel tubular sections to be manipulated and utilized in several different permutations ( FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) for applications as diverse as roofing catchment boards (snow loads, roofers applications), emergency ladders, and basic shelving.

With the ease of application and structural strength that this device employs, many variations of insert support elements can be employed for different tasks and trades. The said slotted vertical channel can be affixed and suspended as a free-standing element from which, lighting, speaker systems, shelving and other support-requiring elements can be positioned. All that is requited for the different applications is the shaping and adaptation of standard tubular steel insert supports.

Variations in the construction of the above described device will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY

The invention facilitates the application and installation of siding, or the like, on a building or structure. The device consists of a main vertical channel with slotted openings through which supporting elements are inserted at right angles in order to receive and support siding elements. The means for detachable securement of the tool to the wall, is achieved via a hole adjacent to the terminus of the upper section through which a spike is passed.

This device enables an amateur builder to simply align and hang siding like a professional. This is achieved through the use of a suspended column from which individual support bars or brackets can be inserted or removed without requirement for the readjustment of the established vertical column. Once the main suspended column is positioned, a plurality of support bars can be inserted or removed from required positions without having to readjust the main vertical supporting column.

This allows for the supported placement of building siding prior to fixing such that a single installer can achieve the same result normally requiring the use of two installers.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIG. 1. Shows the flat plan of the suspended slotted channel, prior to being folded into final C-channel section as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 2. Shows the flat plan of the suspended slotted channel as in FIG. 1, at a wider scale.

FIG. 3. Shows the elevation of the suspended slotted channel.

FIG. 4. Shows isometric view of the suspended slotted channel as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5. Shows elevation of suspended slotted channel with two typical horizontal support elements positioned in readiness to receive siding on the upper surface.

FIG. 6. Shows elevation of suspended slotted channel with a shelving support bracket (210A) passing through.

FIG. 7 Shows isometric projection of suspended slotted channel with two typical horizontal support elements (200A) and two supporting shelving brackets (210A). Bottom shelving bracket indicates variation of planar positioning available.

FIG. 8. Shows wall-facing front elevation of device's secondary embodiment.

FIG. 9. Shows isometric of device's secondary embodiment.

FIG. 10. Shows side elevation of device's secondary embodiment

FIG. 11. Shows wall-facing front elevation of device's secondary embodiment with inserted support tab 310.

FIG. 12. Shows side elevation of device's secondary embodiment with inserted support tab 310.

FIG. 13. Shows isometric projection of device's secondary embodiment with inserted support tab 310.

FIG. 14. Shows side elevation of device's secondary embodiment support tab 310.

FIG. 15. Shows plan view of device's secondary embodiment support tab 310.

FIG. 16. Shows isometric projection of device's secondary embodiment support tab 310.

FIG. 17. Shows back elevation of device's secondary embodiment support tab 310.

FIG. 18. Shows isometric projection of device's secondary embodiment support tab 310.

FIG. 20. Shows elevation of device with two horizontal supports (200A) and two siding panels (350).

DRAWINGS—LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100—Suspended slotted channel.

100A—Aperture through which a spike can affix device to building structure.

100B—Aperture through which supporting element can be passed and positioned.

200A—Horizontal support bar to receive siding elements.

210A—Support bar formed as secondary usage shelving element.

300—Secondary embodiment suspended slotted channel

300A—Aperture through which a spike can affix device to building structure.

300B—Aperture through which supporting element can be passed and positioned.

310—Secondary embodiment insert support tab

350—Siding panel

360—Structure to which panels are being applied

W—Load bearing surface

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Operation:

A removable spike is passed through the uppermost portion of a vertical slotted channel such that the device is suspended out from the building structure. Horizontal elements are then positioned through the slotted apertures in readiness to receive and support building siding or the like. The supported siding elements are then positioned between the vertical slotted channel and the structure to which the siding is being fixed. Multiple units of siding may be applied without requiring the removal or repositioning of the main vertical support channel. Either a single device may be used which will require support at the other end of the siding being applied, or two devices can be used which will allow the siding unit to be fully supported.

Preferred Embodiment

A preferred embodiment of the device is illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. FIG. 5 illustrates an elevational view in which two horizontal support bars are each positioned through two slotted apertures in readiness to receive siding. Each penetrating support bar (200A) is conditioned via two aperture slots (100B) in the main slotted channel (100) gaining both stability and leverage for supporting applied loads.

FIG. 6 illustrates the secondary usage shelving element (210A). This is positioned through the apertures (100B) at two points in the vertical plain. When or if the primary requirement for hanging siding is no longer required, this bracket can be utilized as a means to support horizontal shelving.

FIG. 7 illustrates two horizontal support bars and two shelving elements. The lower shelving element is positioned at right angles to the second shelving unit to illustrate the variation of usage for the main slotted channel.

Additional Embodiment

An Additional Embodiment of the device is shown in FIG. 13. This is the less heavy-duty variation of the primary device. FIG. 13 illustrates the insert tab (310) which is introduced through the slotted opening (300B).

Conclusion, Ramification, and Scope

The Building-Siding Hanger and Support Device will allow a single installer the ability to hang multiples of siding units of a weight and scale that was not possible without the aide of a second installer prior to this device.

The device will allow the hanging of the widest range of materials from as light as a single vinyl panel to multiples of concrete fiber boards and does not rely on an already established panel from which to gain purchase. This device will enable anyone from the weekend do-it-yourselfer to the fulltime industrial installation crew to work more safely, faster and more efficiently in the hanging of building siding. 

1. The means of using a removable elongated channel sectional element which can be suspended from and attached to a structure and from which a plurality of suitable projecting elements can be inserted whereby loads such as building siding and the like can be supported. 